The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-01-22

a -
,ri,ely sccne-"Go pbo" and Chivslry.
The old Peddler'
,.-,ss the rolling Attakapus prairie a
u .,vslcado trotted, apparently in no
s'''.. -, =, rsach its destination The natural
no.. - the httlo Creole ponies was an easy
So, or cantor; therefore il was that the
,,,l,r rough trot Of the animals evil
,..l +. restraining pull at the heavy bits.
NJ. were five in tho party, all excellont
'..,.p and all dressed in tho coarse but
III. homospun cottonade OF that section
UI.r,.isisus. They seemed 20 be enjoying
..,,es for their hearty laughter and
-.r,rtoe in French, all talking at one
. bo.D1ke a freedom from care and also
go l,,-,, of amusement they possessed in
A. distance. Just pceping above one of
,.r. In the prairie. the slender spire of
I'',.'s church Of st. Pierre broke the line
H. horizon. and in its direction the
-. eere riding Out upon these broad
L.-...h... Of almost trcelcSs country distances
y.r, deceptive, and il was about two
Iorr, after the steeple was first seen that
..,,3.~, refined up in the little town. The
...1sm.nt did not comprise moro than
.,ysrtv Eve or thirty houses. the most con-
.-;.,,o,, of which were the church referred
70 and two stores.
Tr.,, visitors alighted al one Of the stores,
AMI were cordially greeted BY Tie crowd
".r, assembled They seemed 10 know
.,,...b,.y and everybody was or terms of
,,.ir.s., with them, for they were adj
5-..aI Lv their Christian names and slapped
sr,.-ionstcly ON the back.
Thu lately arrived horscmen were taken
I'm cbar.. by friends, and each was escorted
oT to dinner i'm some of the comfortable
dwellings from the chimneys of waich the
curljnz smoke gave sign Of tho good cheer
within.
General hospitality wore away the after
noon. and as the evening came slowly over
the prairie from the far east whore it was
already dark. a number Of riding parties
nqssaJ down the road. bound for some place
b,v0Dd Soon there were twenty-five or
thirty on their way, and with them the visit
ors Dressed in all the briliancy of highly
oolored calicOes dark eyed demoiselles gal
louei along As if grown TO their side saddles,
and their merry laughter made the somber
Quiet Of the prairie musical as they rode.
AN uOuI I4Ac bIouIhl LLt lf1i ~ ~ OllOAi
destination The house stood alone on the
prairie. sheltered by two or three live oaks.
Four rooms. with a broad gallery in front,
A hallway through the middle and large
dining room, taking up the ground plan of
the isolated dwelling A bright bonfire was
burning in front and the windows glistened
ike ,quarely cut rubies, with the genial IL
Elimination inside.
4 large number of men and women, at
tired in quite gay toilets, welcomed the
newly arrived. and for time nothing could
De heard but the warm SITUATIONS Of friends.
The large dining room in the rear was the
main object of interest, and after ribbons
had been arranged. back hair adjusted and
skirts smo0thed down all the ladies hurried
t0 lis precincts The floor was cleared Of all
furniture and around the walls long benches
of boards had been pat up, that as many as
possible might be accommodated with seats
Beside the windows and doors smoking can
dies inserted in aUger holes bored in small
pieces of wood. gave a bright light that
afforded one an opportunity Of "a more care
iui inspection of the guests.
AL ages were represented, but the young
were In the majority Married danes with
endowment Of the hour as the bellies dccked
ont u ribbons and perfumed with cinnamon
essence At about $3.50 O'Clock the shrill
squeak Of q violiT sounded from one corner
VI tho ballroom and was followed b. the
deop diapAson Of al accordion.
Tho fO0r WAS cleared and the young gal
lants selected their partners. The full faced
old gentleman with silver spectaclee whis-
peTed 10 AK neishbor with the accordion,
Gun Deux Trois." and of they started
sometimes tho accordion ahead, ond then
the violin, in tho inspiriting movement Of an
old fashioned mazOurkA The benches
around the room were now crowded with
the feminine portion Of the guests, the male
admirers being compelled 10 stand in the
doorwayA from whence a galaxy of eyes
drunk in the animated scene.
After each danes there was promenade, |
which afforded anxious mothers an oppor- |
tunity Of seeking their infants where they
wero all nestled together on one bed in y
rear chamber, a I'd there to quiet lusty cries
Induced by hunger by a hurried administra-
ton of natures best infantile food. Dance |
followed dance. Then the quadrille was /
announced, and three sets took the floor |
4 nc Oh NlOlnlSU was now IN MS el0iIlcut. /
Beating time with the toe Of a very heavy |
boot, be made it impossible for the dancers |
to forget tho measure, and in a musical lit |
lie voice he instructed tho more modest in /
tho figures with "Avant deux2 Balance /
Chas-9z. Croisezl Chaine DIES dames!'
in thu midst Of the Gladys chain a stem
torian voice from the front room called out .
Gombo.' The music lost its influence and /
there was a rush for the hall. Men sought |
their fayorites this way and that, anxious
maidens kept their eyes on the floor hoping
for tho coming Of certain gallants. There
was some crowding around the entrance TO
The improyised refreshment room from
which came tho savory odor Of arich gombo
and strong coffee. Unlike the custom at
balls within the jurisdiction Of a more cere-
monious social code the gallants passed their
ialr ones alone by the doorkeeper into the
eumptuous feast and then adjourned TO the
front gallery TO smoke a cigarette
AS the ladies completed their hurried re-
past and approached the door TO make an
exit fh4 1,orlyoo,,ov. with luctv voice chCufod /